Volkswagen Amarok V6 2016 Review

Name: Volkswagen Amarok V6 2016 Review
Brand: Volkswagen

New V6 diesel makes the VW Amarok the most powerful ute on the market

Volkswagen has shot straight to the top of the utility class with its new V6 diesel Amarok – the headline act of a range-wide facelift for the German car-maker’s one-tonne line-up. Offering more power and torque outputs than any other dual cab-utility currently on sale, the large displacement oil-burner improves an already sorted package in the form of the carry-over 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel. But Australia’s most expensive tradie workhorse isn’t perfect.

As US president-elect Donald Trump may soon find out, power is not necessarily a direct means to authority.

Having said that, power is everything to some, and that’s particularly the case in the crowded Australian utility segment. Generally, if it has a big engine, decent towing capacity or is dirt cheap, it will sell in droves.

Sure enough, power is the new trumpcard with Volkswagen’s V6 diesel Amarok introduced this month.

Whereas the current four-cylinder diesel Amarok has been strong on paper since its launch in 2011, producing a credible 125kW/440Nm but falling foul of some buyers in the real world, the new V6 model ups the ante significantly.

Volkswagen boasts that 7500 prospective customers already agree.

The six-cylinder engine is the same as that found in the Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7 and performance diesel vehicles like the Audi SQ5. In the Amarok-specific tune, it offers 165kW and 550Nm outputs – more than any other utility currently on sale.

In fact, only the discontinued D40 Nissan Navara ST-X 550 comes close, with 170kW and 550Nm, though the Amarok stretches to 180kW courtesy of an overboost function that comes on for up to 10 seconds at a time when the accelerator is depressed more than 70 per cent.

The same venerable engine has done service within the Volkswagen Group since 2004, with several notable tweaks along the way. The unit fitted to the Amarok is replete with full Euro5 emissions compliance, and has an AdBlue provision for when Euro 6 measures roll out in Oz.

Tweaked for the Amarok’s varying duties, the engine receives a new sump with a larger oil capacity – accommodating for various inclinations and off-road scenarios. The piston and cylinder linings have also been adapted for high-load, low-speed conditions, again a typical virtue of off-roading.

The rest of the mechanical package is similar to the four-cylinder Amarok. That is, an eight-speed ZF transmission and no dedicated split transfer case.

The absence of low-range and high-range gearing isn’t a deal-breaker, according to Volkswagen. It claims the torque converter’s low-ratio first gear offers similar low-down traction as a low-speed transfer case, combining with a rear differential lock in sticky conditions.

There are also plans afoot to eventually add a six-speed manual option, fitted with a two-speed transfer case.

The full specification rundown of the two-tier V6 range is laid out here, but in short, the new flagship Amarok is the most expensive ute on sale in Australia, starting at $59,990 and topping out at $67,990.

Only the incoming Mercedes-Benz X-Class, which will include a German-sourced V6 diesel, is likely to trump it on price.

Fortunately, the V6 mill brings unprecedented levels of power, refinement and on-road cachet to the booming utility segment. Crank over the 90-degree mill and the cabin is not filled with typical clatter but rather a smooth and subdued melody.

The initial throttle response is a tad sharp, especially upon first nudging the accelerator. But beyond that point the surge forward is all smooth, the engine reaching peak torque from just 1500rpm and seguing smoothly into its middling and upper echelons.

The eight-speed auto aids in forward progress, with smooth, well-timed shifts and a propensity to find taller gears as soon as it can to assist in efficiency. The overdrive-style eighth-ratio is available from about 80km/h and spins the engine at a miserly 1900rpm at highway speeds.

Of course, it’s not all idle speed with the V6. When it comes time to bury the right foot, the engine answers the call emphatically, making the slightest of hesitations before marching confidently towards its 4500rpm rev limit.

Officially, it takes 7.9 seconds to reach 100km/h from rest. Any other rival will take you north of 10 seconds.

What’s more impressive is the way the Amarok delivers mid-gear or roll-on acceleration. It’s simply effortless when getting up to speed or during overtaking manoeuvres, offering up punchy and rewarding forward shove without the usual cluttered tedium.

Volkswagen boasts a claimed fuel rating usually akin to a four-cylinder, at 7.8L/100km. We struggled to match this in the real life, instead returning a combined reading of 9.8L/100km with two people and a few bags on board. Still nothing to sneeze at.

The Amarok continues to impress with its ride and handling traits, considered by most as the benchmark of this class.

The steering is accurate and reactive to driver inputs, the cabin is serenely quiet at speed and the ride comfort, with smaller-than-usual 17-inch wheels and Pirelli all-terrain tyres fitted to our test vehicles due to an off-road loop, is completely liveable. Jiggly and firm, as you’d expect, but completely fuss-free.

Even with an added 80kg over the nose of the Amarok courtesy of the bigger engine, the circa 2100kg dual-cab shifts its weight predictably through a mix of bitumen and dirt roads, the live axle rear occasionally juddering heavily over extended corrugations.

With a mere 300kg on board, the Amarok feels similarly tied down to the road. The bigger test will come during in-house testing, where we plan to capitalise on its three-tonne towing capacity and 911kg payload (864kg in Ultimate grade).

Volkswagen concedes both ratings aren’t class-leading, though the V6 does boast a gross combined mass (GCM) of six tonnes, meaning you can tow a three-tonne trailer and still carry 800kg in the ute.

We threw the Amarok at a couple of decent off-road tracks as well and it ambled through comfortably, the traction control aids doing their bit to clamber up rocky and muddy surfaces alike.

The beauty of the permanent all-wheel drive system is that there are no lengthy delays waiting for four-wheel drive to engage; simply aim and shoot, using the ‘off-road’ button to tailor the vehicle’s traction aids to the task if need be.

The Amarok also steps away from the norm with the fitment of four disc brakes, 322mm in size at the front and 300mm in diameter at the rear – a first for this segment. They are strong and feel great through the pedal, but the big test will be with a load in tow.

The Amarok’s 1555mm long x 1620mm wide x 508mm deep tray is fitted standard with four tie-down points and a load area light and 12-volt outlet. It is still the only vehicle in its class to accommodate a full-size Australian pallet between its wheel-arches (1222mm space).

Volkswagen says you can add a further two tie-down points courtesy of its extensive genuine accessories catalogue. Pity there’s no factory bullbar available.

Inside, the Amarok’s capacious cabin is as strong as ever. It features unrivalled head and shoulder space for this segment, along with comfortable seats that are good for long stints in the saddle and a strong array of storage in the doors, under the seats and scattered in various other places.

It’s a shame that Volkswagen didn’t take the opportunity to introduce modern safety tech like that found in the Ford Ranger. Yes, the Amarok gets a multi-collision brake function that automatically slows the vehicle down after an accident but there is no autonomous emergency braking, no radar cruise control, no lane keeping assist and no rear cross traffic alert.

The biggest source of disappointment is the absence of rear curtain airbags, a crucial oversight in this family-savvy segment. The Amarok still manages a five-star safety rating even without this feature, but arguably on technicality more than anything else.

Also notably absent from these top-grade models is push-button starting, and the 6.3-inch touch-screen is smaller than many other rivals’. But the general refinement, fit and finish and materials stand above the pack.

The instrument cluster in particular is clear and concise, interacting intuitively with sat-nav directions and also conveying important trip information including a digital speedo.

The fitment of tilt and reach adjustment on the steering wheel is still a big point in this segment, however, it would be nice to see rear air vents across the otherwise amply-proportioned rear seat. Even so, it’s probably the only rear bench capable of accommodating three adults on decent journeys.

Combine that with luxury items including optional Nappa leather and entry ‘puddle’ lights beneath the side-steps, and you can begin to imagine the type of buyer VW is aiming its premium offering at.

Sure, no entrant in the utility segment is perfect. But if power is important, the Amarok has just jumped to the top of the polls.

2016 Volkswagen Amarok V6 pricing and specifications:

Price: $59,990 Highline, $67,990 Ultimate (plus ORCs)

Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel

Output: 165kW/550Nm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Fuel: 7.8L/100km (ADR Combined)

CO2: 204g/km (ADR Combined)

Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP

Also consider:

>> Ford Ranger Wildtrak (from $57,890 plus ORCs)

>> Toyota HiLux SR5 (from $53,990 plus ORCs)